The Affects Of Down Syndrome In Child Development

Heidi Cabral
Science – Down syndrome
Group 1

Down syndrome is a genetic condition that causes a delay in a child development mentally and physically. In every Eight hundred babies one is effect by Down syndrome. Down syndrome can form widely from child to child. Down syndrome has two affects to the person meaning that the child might need a lot of medical attention or lead healthy lives. Down syndrome cannot be prevented but can be discovered before the child is born. The condition of Down syndrome can be treated. (http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/genetic/down_syndrome.html). There are resources within the communities that will help the family who is living with a person with Down syndrome or is the person with Down syndrome.
Kids with Down syndrome share certain features such as a flat facial look, an upward slant to the eyes, small ears, and protruding tongue. The development of children with Down syndrome is slower then the children without the condition such as delays in speech, feeding, getting dressed and potty training. Also milestones like sitting up crawling and walking is also a delay for kids with the condition. Another affect known in a child with Down syndrome is low muscle tone also called (Hypotonia), that affect contributes to sucking and feeding problems as well with digestive issues such as urinating and constipation. There is a very big range of abilities with the children of Down syndrome. It is difficult to know what the child is capable of as they grow up. Some kids with Down syndrome may have any medical issues but others will require all the attention possible. Most or half of the children born with Down syndrome may have congenital heart defect. Congenital heart disease is a type of defect or abnormal in one or more structures of the heart or blood vessels that occurs before birth. Congenital heart disease happens because of incomplete or abnormal development of the fetus heart during the early weeks of pregnancy. Some of the risk are “Genetic or chromosomal abnormalities in the child such as Down syndrome”, “Taking certain medications or alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy”, and “Maternal viral infection, such as rubella (German measles) in the first trimester of pregnancy”( http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/congenital-heart-disease) Some Children with Down syndrome develop pulmonary hypertension, which is a serious condition to the child lungs. That is why all children with the condition should see a pediatric cardiologist. Another approximation of the children with Down syndrome may have a difficult time hearing